Report No. 02 of 1998 Date: 9 January 1998This report includes: A) Democratic People's Republic of Korea B) East and Central Africa: Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo/Brazzaville and Democratic Republic of Congo C) Angola D) Iraq.
>From Manuel Aranda da Silva, Chief, Technical Support Service. Available on the Internet on the WFP Home Page at http://www.wfp.org/ or by electronic mail from Deborah.Hicks@wfp.org (fax 39 6 6513 2837). For information on resources, donors are requested to contact Francesco.Strippoli@wfp.org or Aleesa.Blum@wfp.org at WFP Rome, telephone 39 6 6513 2504 or 6513 2004.
As of 19 January 1998, the new address of WFP will be Via Cesare Giulio Viola 68, Parco dei Medici, Rome 00148. Telephone and fax numbers will remain the same. Temporary interruption to communications expected beginning mid-day, 16 January.
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)
A. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update a) WFP launches biggest ever appeal for emergency food aid for DPR Korea: EMOP 5959 for 658,000 metric tons of food, total cost USD 378.2 million, to assist 7.47 million people, mainly children, during the period April 1998 to March 1999. b) With national food production falling for third year running, food situation very critical and substantial food imports, including food aid, needed.
B. EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: BURUNDI, RWANDA, TANZANIA, UGANDA, CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE AND DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
1. Rwanda a) Lean season food distributions completed in Gikongoro prefecture; under way in Butare prefecture. b) Food stocks, particularly of pulses, remain low due flooding along southern corridor through Tanzania; Rwanda presently supplied from buffer stock held in Kampala and through temporary reallocations from other country programmes.
2. Burundi a) Temporary suspension of UN operations in Bujumbura Rural following two major rebel attacks. During attack on Bujumbura airport on 31 December, plane used by WFP for internal flight programme was damaged. b) Some 10,000 persons displaced after the attacks. WFP to distribute seven-day food ration to 7,000 persons accommodated in accessible site. c) Increasing number of incidents disrupt food distributions; in Bubanza province, CARE distribution suspended when populations not targeted to receive food during current cycle threaten violence. d) WFP despatches food to Burundi from Kampala through Rwanda during interruption of southern transport corridor; cereal stocks in-country very low.
3. Tanzania a) Rains lessen; transport links from Dar es Salaam to central and western parts of the country being restored; Tanzanian Railway Corporation estimates that over 2 million dollars required to repair damaged bridges and culverts and restore embankments.
4. Uganda a) Resettlement of additional 9,415 displaced Ugandans in western parts of the country begun by NGO World Harvest Mission, following delivery of WFP food for resettlement packages. b) WFP to phase out general food distributions in Bundibugyo district, except for food to the most vulnerable groups through hospitals and health centres; authorities continue to encourage displaced families in the area to return home.
5. Congo/Brazzaville and Democratic Republic of Congo a) Total of 3,780 refugees have returned to Brazzaville under organized repatriation programme; 60 metric tons of food distributed in form of return packages so far. b) Water levels in Kisangani subside; WFP approves emergency operation to assist some 13,000 affected people in the area for one month. c) Eastern DR Congo relatively peaceful, but activities of humanitarian agencies remain limited.
C. ANGOLA
1. Update a) While security situation generally calm, increase in banditry and armed attacks obstructs movement of humanitarian staff, hinders return of internally displaced persons, blocks demining efforts and impedes road/bridge rehabilitation projects; newly laid mines, especially in Bie province, raises concern for safety of UN/NGO staff. Clashes cause additional displacement of populations in some areas. b) WFP continues relief operation to newly displaced and vulnerable groups, and food-for-work rehabilitation programmes; feeder road rehabilitation is on standby. c) Rapid demobilization exercise completed, with final total of 41,726 demobilized under the process. Demobilization in situ of additional UNITA troops still ongoing.
D. IRAQ
1. Update a) UN Secretary-General approves distribution plan for latest phase of oil-for-food agreement on 6 January. b) Iraq reduces rations of baby milk powder and tea, detergent, due to low SCR 986 arrivals of these commodities. c) Rocket propelled grenade hits UNSCOM/WFP/UNOHCI offices in Baghdad on 2 January; minor damage and no injuries. d) WFP emergency food given to group of 100 Kurdish families removed from the city of Kirkuk to northern governorate of Erbil.
PART II - DETAILS
A. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. UPDATE
1.1 WFP on 6 January launched an appeal for USD 378.2 million in emergency food aid for DPR Korea to assist 7.47 million people, mainly children, regarded as particularly vulnerable in the current food crisis situation. The period covered by the appeal is April 1998 to March 1999. The target is to raise 657,972 metric tons of food, together with the cash needed to cover operational and support costs.
1.2 The WFP operation will also contribute the food aid part of a Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal to be issued by the UN Office of the Emergency Relief Coordinator (OERC), the previous Department of Humanitarian Affairs, later this month.
1.3 Under this operation, WFP will provide nutritional support for over 5 million children in nurseries, kindergartens and schools up to the age of 12. Orphans and handicapped people will also be assisted, as will hospital patients.
1.4 There are indications that birth weights may at present be decreasing, reflecting a possible decline in the nutritional status of the female population of childbearing age. Supplementary food rations for 450,000 expecting women and nursing mothers have been included in the WFP operation to safeguard the welfare of the new-born babies and their mothers.
1.5 In addition, food-for-work activities will be supported through the provision of rations for workers participating in heavy physical work involving agricultural rehabilitation and improvement. Collaborative arrangements are being worked out with technical agencies involved in such activities. It is estimated that food-for-work schemes can provide employment for 500,000 mainly peri-urban and rural non-agricultural workers in under-utilized sectors. The rations provided under food-for-work are based on the assumption that participating workers have a spouse and one elderly relative in the household, with most children already covered under one of the other beneficiary categories.
1.6 Prior to the signing of the appeal, the DPR Korea Government and WFP have agreed on a number of issues related to access and monitoring. WFP staff will have access to all areas where WFP food is distributed. A total of 46 international staff will be in place at the operation's starting date. Linked to the issue of staff deployment is the establishment of WFP sub-offices outside the capital Pyongyang. Currently operational are the offices in Sinuiju, Chongjin and Hamhung. For the 1998 operation agreement has also been reached concerning two additional sub-offices, in Wonsan (Kangwon province in the south-east) and Hyesan (Ryanggang province in the north-west).
1.7 As already reported (WFP Emergency Report no. 48/97 of 28 November 1997 refers), an FAO/WFP mission assessed the 1997 cereals production at 2.66 million tons, to be compared to 4.1 million and 2.9 million in 1995 and 1996 respectively. The mission also noted that over half of the livestock had been culled to provide meat and to reduce demand for feed grains. As this and other short-term coping mechanisms are gradually being exhausted, the food shortages have become critical.
B. EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: BURUNDI, RWANDA, TANZANIA, UGANDA, REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE) AND DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
1. RWANDA
1.1 Lean season food distributions have been completed in Gikongoro prefecture. In total, 103,000 vulnerable persons were provided with WFP food rations. Similar distributions are presently under way in Butare where over 50,000 families in ten communes have been targeted for assistance.
1.2 Food stocks, particularly of pulses, remain low due to transport constraints along the southern corridor caused by flooding. Despatches from Mombassa have also been affected and Rwanda is presently being supplied from a buffer stock held in Kampala and through temporary reallocations from other country programmes.
1.3 The preliminary local crop assessment mission has completed their initial survey of all prefectures in the country. Once compiled the data from these preliminary visits will form the basis for the joint FAO/WFP crop assessment and food supply mission.
2. BURUNDI
2.1 UN operations in Bujumbura Rural are temporarily suspended, while military operations continue, following two severe rebel attacks in the area. During the first attack on 31 December, the airport was hit and the plane used by WFP for its internal flight programme was damaged.
2.2 In total, close to 10,000 persons became displaced after the attacks near Bujumbura. WFP will distribute a seven-day food ration to some 7,000 persons accommodated in an accessible site.
2.3 An increasing number of incidents are occurring during food distributions in Burundi. During the latest incident in Bubanza province, the distribution of WFP commodities organized by CARE had to be suspended, when populations not targeted to receive food during this cycle threatened violence. Other incidents have previously taken place during distributions in Kayanza and Karuzi provinces.
2.4 Cereal stocks in Burundi as of the beginning of the year covered only less than a week's requirements. The southern transport corridor, through Tanzania, is still interrupted and WFP is despatching food to Burundi, from Kampala through Rwanda.
2.5 UNHCR has reported that a total of 93,053 Burundian refugees returned to the country during 1997. The majority of the returnees, 62,499 persons, came from Tanzania, 24,959 persons returned from the former Zaire and 5,595 from Rwanda. UNHCR estimates that some 490,000 Burundian refugees remain in countries of asylum.
2.6 During 1997 a total of 106 different food-for-work projects were completed in Burundi. Close to 41,000 persons participated in these programmes in exchange for WFP food commodities. Food rations distributed under such programmes include also the participants' family members, representing over 200,000 food beneficiaries.
3. TANZANIA
3.1 With the rains now lessening, efforts are under way to resume transport links from Dar es Salaam to central and western parts of the country. The Tanzanian Railway Corporation estimates that over 2 million dollars will be required to repair damaged bridges and culverts and to restore embankments that were washed away.
3.2 Repairs on roads and bridges are in some areas being carried out by local community and businesses. In Mwanza, local villagers were provided with 15 metric tons of WFP food as an incentive to repair a bridge along the Mwanza/Musoma road. The work was completed in record time.
3.3 WFP is exploring the possibility of trucking food from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, for transhipment onto rail wagons and onward delivery to Isaka and Kigoma.
3.4 The repatriation of Congolese refugees from Kigoma to eastern DR Congo proceeds. During the first week of January, 627 refugees were repatriated, bringing the total to date to close to 13,000 refugees.
4. UGANDA
4.1 The World Harvest Mission has begun the resettlement of an additional 9,415 displaced Ugandans in western parts of the country. This follows recent deliveries of WFP food which allow the provision of resettlement packages. To date close to 21,000 persons have resettled from Nyahuka, near Bundibugyo.
4.2 Authorities are appealing to displaced families in the Bundibugyo district to return home but those originating from the mountainous areas are still fearful of returning. WFP plans to phase out general food distributions in the area, with the exception of distributions targeted to the most vulnerable groups through hospitals and health centres.
5. REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE) AND DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
5.1 Kinshasa and Congo/Brazzaville
a) During the first week of January, 2,226 refugees from Brazzaville returned home from Kinshasa. A total of 3,780 refugees are now returned to Brazzaville since the organized repatriation programme started on 19 December. WFP continues providing return packages to the returnees and so far over 60 metric tons of food have been distributed.
5.2 Eastern DR Congo
a) Water levels in Kisangani have now subsided. Some 250 cholera cases were declared in the area, killing 150 children. The epidemic seems now to be contained. Other areas along the River Congo were at some point also submerged. WFP has approved an emergency operation to assist some 13,000 people during a one-month period.
b) The eastern areas of DR Congo experienced a week of relative peace but the military presence remains considerable. Activities of humanitarian agencies remain limited and the fate of about 70,000 displaced Congolese uncertain. Some of the needy displaced families last received food assistance during early November.
C. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE - information as of 30 December 1997
1.1 The situation in Angola remains relatively static with reports of sporadic banditry and clashes happening throughout the country specifically in southern Benguela, northern Huila and Lucapa, Cuango and Cafofu in Lunda Norte, causing additional displacement of populations. Completion of the tasks outlined in the Lusaka protocol and reiterated in the Security Council Resolution 1127 and 1135 (subsequent sanctions imposed at the end of October 1997) still remain incomplete, namely completing the extension of state administration, the demilitarization of UNITA and the transformation of Radio Vorgan into a non-partisan radio station. However, more recently there has been indications that UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi and President Dos Santos may meet shortly to discuss outstanding issues regarding the consolidation of the peace process. The extension of state administration continues to be carried out in fits and starts across the country with some provinces having already completed the process.
1.2 While MONUA officials state that the security situation is somewhat calm throughout the country, an increase in banditry and armed attacks has obstructed the movements of humanitarian staff, hindered the return of internally displaced persons, blocked demining efforts and impeded road/bridge rehabilitation projects. In some areas, news of newly laid mines, especially in Bie province, has raised significant concern for the safety of UN/NGO staff.
1.3 Within this context, WFP is continuing with its relief operation, mainly assistance to newly displaced and vulnerable groups, in addition to food-for-work rehabilitation programmes; the feeder road rehabilitation is on standby.
1.4 Demobilization:
a) The final Military War Disabled were demobilized from Jamba, Kuando Kubango province on 22 December, bringing to completion the rapid demobilization exercise with a final total of 41,726 demobilized under this process. Before the rapid demobilization exercise, 2,124 UNITA Underage Military plus 260 FAA Underage Military were demobilized. The demobilization in situ of additional UNITA troops is still ongoing, with 731 of the 7,884 registered UNITA residual troops demobilized to date. Demobilization of special categories is also ongoing (deminers, social promoters and national police); 970 ex-UNITA and 453 ex-FAPLA/FAA have been registered. Before the end of February UCAH hopes to complete the demobilization of special categories and the demobilization of ex-UNITA in situ troops.
b) The distribution of post-demobilization food is ongoing throughout the country. Following an incident in Cazombo where 333 demobilized surrounded the offices of the NGO LWF, demanding food, WFP, UCAH, IRSEM/SeCoR and other concerned agencies met to discuss the procedure in Luanda on 16 December. IRSEM/SeCoR, the agency responsible for the distribution of post-demobilization food (supplied by WFP), has agreed to sensitize all areas of the procedures in order to avoid future misunderstandings.
D. IRAQ
1. UPDATE
1.1 The UN Secretary-General approved the distribution plan for the third six-month phase of the Iraqi oil-for-food agreement on 6 January. The plan provides the details of the distribution of humanitarian supplies purchased through revenues generated by the sale of Iraqi oil under the UN agreement (Security Council Resolution 986). The distribution plan for the food sector (USD 807 million) remains identical to the plan approved for the second phase of the agreement, pending the results of a humanitarian programme review that is currently being conducted by UN agencies and the Government of Iraq. The humanitarian programme review will be submitted to the UN Secretary-General by 12 January. Also under way is a process review which will address the contracting, approval, procurement and delivery problems encountered under the agreement. The results of both the humanitarian and process reviews will be submitted by the UN Secretary-General to the Security Council at the end of January.
1.2 Iraq announced on 28 December that it was reducing rations of baby milk powder and tea (as well as detergent) in January 1998, due to low SCR 986 arrivals of these commodities. The Iraqi News Agency reported that each Iraqi child under one year of age would receive 1,800 grams of powdered milk a month instead of the 2,700 gram ration of recent months. The tea ration is cut by 60 percent to 100 grams. Rations for rice, wheat flour and sugar will be kept unchanged.
1.3. On the evening of 2 January, a rocket propelled grenade was fired at UN offices shared by UNSCOM, WFP and UNOHCI in the Canal Hotel in Baghdad. The projectile did not have any explosives and therefore caused minimal damage to the wall of the building facing the road and a broken window pane. There were no injuries. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator has taken up the issue with the Iraqi authorities and experts are investigating the matter. Enhanced security measures have been put in place by the local authorities.
1.4 WFP is providing emergency food assistance to a group of about 100 Kurdish families who have been removed from the Iraqi city of Kirkuk to the northern governorate of Erbil, until they are re-registered for their SCR 986 rations. These families are in addition to the 19,488 internally displaced people in the north who are among the targeted beneficiary groups of the WFP emergency operation.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 02 of 1998 - January 9, 1998)
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